Lessons in Film

Julia and Pete

Julia hasn't seen a lot of movies, but Pete's seen way too many. Follow them as they explore film history, theory, and criticism.

  1. Jun 4

    Best Picture Showdown: Birdman - The Grand Budapest Hotel

    Julia and Pete watch two very pretentious Best Picture nominees from 2014 - Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel - and try to determine what exactly the Academy is looking for when they choose a winner.

    51 min

  2. May 28

    Best Picture Showdown: Spotlight - Mad Max: Fury Road

    Julia and Pete compare two Best Picture nominees from 2015 that couldn't be more different -Spotlight, a grounded true story about the struggles of journalism, and Mad Max: Fury Road, a post-apocalyptic epic of non-stop action.

    46 min

  3. May 21

    Best Picture Showdown: Gone with the Wind - The Wizard of Oz

    Julia and Pete watch two legendary Best Picture nominees, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, and compare what both films say about the Hollywood studio system of the 1930s.

    54 min

  4. Apr 17

    Best Picture Showdown: Dances With Wolves - Goodfellas

    Julia and Pete discuss, compare, and contrast two films nominated for Best Picture in 1990. First, there's the film that won, the overlong Kevin Costner epic Dances With Wolves, and the film that should have won, Martin Scorsese's mob classic Goodfellas.

    1h 8m

  5. Apr 17

    The Blues Brothers and the Auteur Theory

    Julia and Pete watch The Blues Brothers and discuss the career of Dan Aykroyd through the lens of the auteur theory.

    58 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    Brokeback Mountain and the Vulnerability of Machismo

    Julia and Pete watch Brokeback Mountain and discuss the film's message about masculinity and repression, how the culture received it at the time, and the incredibly restrained performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

    48 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Johnny Mnemonic and the Birth of the Cyberpunk Genre

    Julia and Pete watch the cyberpunk classic Johnny Mnemonic and discuss how it still resonates today, from the fear of technological omnipresence, to the film's anti-corporate, anti-capitalist message.

    55 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    Alien: Resurrection and the Necessity of a Good Foundation

    Julia and Pete close out their look at the Alien series by watching Alien: Resurrection, a film that's very damp and very French. They discuss the movie's confused tone, languid pacing, and uneven performances.

    47 min
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About

Julia hasn't seen a lot of movies, but Pete's seen way too many. Follow them as they explore film history, theory, and criticism.

Information

  • Creator
    Julia and Pete
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Julia and Pete
  • Show Website
    Lessons in Film